According to The Scottish Sun

A Nixon Story

Burnley are readying a £10million bid for Celtic star Jozo Simunovic to replace Michael Keane

I don't know if there's any truth in this rumour, but Simunovic is Croatian, played for Zagreb. Usually (not always !), players from this part of the world are grounded, down to earth types, hard as nails defenders and disciplined. In other words, Dyche type players and perfect for Burnley.

If Dyche wants him and rates him, that's good enough for me.

Celtic are playing Champions League football, so that will have a big influence on any decision to sell him/ or whether the player himself wants to leave, obviously.

Celtic do tend to be a good grounding for defenders. van Dijk, Wanyama (ok he's a defensive midfielder) etc. I can see the allure of Champions League football, but they're never going to win it and their appearances in it are all too fleeting when the big boys come in. The draw of the Premier League and playing top sides week in, week out instead of Ross County, St Johnstone or whoever plays in that league these days. Has to be a real bonus.

50 shades of Grey wrote:I don't know if there's any truth in this rumour, but Simunovic is Croatian, played for Zagreb. Usually (not always !), players from this part of the world are grounded, down to earth types, hard as nails defenders and disciplined. In other words, Dyche type players and perfect for Burnley.

If Dyche wants him and rates him, that's good enough for me.

Celtic are playing Champions League football, so that will have a big influence on any decision to sell him/ or whether the player himself wants to leave, obviously.

I see what you're saying about him being Croatian. He was born in Croatia and grew up there. But for a little more context, I've read that his parents and grandparents are all from Bosnia and that he's chosen to represent Bosnia instead of Croatia due to a lack of contact from the latter. Sounds a bit like our Scott Arfield!

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/ ... -of-bosnia" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I did think the CB speculation had gone a bit quiet of late. If there's any truth in this, that would confirm Dawson is a no go and that there was nothing in the Shawcross links (or that his situation at Stoke has changed).

Do we trust Alan Nixon with a transfer rumour?

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Avatar for Ossie48
Ossie48 33 minutes ago
I make this the third time this rag has tried to sell him this summer. Talk about lazy journalism

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Avatar for Haggis 18
Haggis 18 9 hours ago
Aye very good....we're crying out for a CH so we're not exactly gonnae sell our best and only fit one...idiots.

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Avatar for Haggis 18
Haggis 18 9 hours ago
And certainly not for 10m....25m for Michael Keane, who is Michael Keane ?

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Avatar for Eoghan MacDhomhnaill
Eoghan MacDhomhnaill 7 hours ago
Jozo Simunovic! He put Kenny Miller in the air Check out the 'Singing scarf' on twitter m8 Some crazy f.uckers out there

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Avatar for Haggis 18
Haggis 18 7 hours ago
Don't do Tw@tter bud but if you've got a link I'll be hoopy to have a gander...

COYBIG


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Avatar for Eoghan MacDhomhnaill
Eoghan MacDhomhnaill 5 hours ago
Had a wee look there bud. Haven't a clue. Don't think ya can! Not a big social media person. 40 follows...20 U2 & 20 Celtic

Same rumour now in The Scotsman - just reporting on Nixon's article.

We sent our chief scout to watch him apparently.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche sent chief scout Martin Hodge to watch the Bosnian in action last week. The English side are looking to replace Michael Keane who was sold to Everton in a £25 million deal. Burnley hope to secure Simunovic’s signature with the offer of Premier League football. (Scottish Sun)

Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/ ... -1-4537032" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wasn't he mentioned months ago? I'm sure I recall a link at the beginning of the window.

Would be a great signing, but can't see Celtic letting him go or him wanting to swap Champions League football for a relegation battle.

The last centre half we got from Scotland wasn't too good. Big bloke on loan about 10 years ago.

Mind you, that's not really relevant, and I've no idea what this lad is like.

Tall Paul wrote:Would be a great signing, but can't see Celtic letting him go or him wanting to swap Champions League football for a relegation battle.

He'll know that his experience of Champions League football will be short-lived with Celtic. If SD wants him, I think he'd move.

Tall Paul wrote:Would be a great signing, but can't see Celtic letting him go or him wanting to swap Champions League football for a relegation battle.

If you look past that we're a shop window for players in the PL. if they're good enough for us they're likely to courted by the bigger, more established PL clubs.

I've no problem with this, it's what we do to survive.

ClaretEngineer wrote:If you look past that we're a shop window for players in the PL. if they're good enough for us they're likely to courted by the bigger, more established PL clubs.

I've no problem with this, it's what we do to survive.

True, and that could swing it in our favour. We can also pay him more than Celtic. I just can't see them letting him go unfortunately.

Celtic are playing Champions League football, so that will have a big influence on any decision to sell him/ or whether the player himself wants to leave, obviously.[/quote]

Not for long

mybloodisclaret wrote:Not for long

I'd prefer both.

FactualFrank wrote:I'd prefer both.

Haha I meant Celtic wouldn't be in the Champs league for long. I would like both also if being greedy!!

Same storyline now on SSN live blog but Celtic pretty certain of getting into Champs League group stages

Would be quality. But cant see it.

I think most of the bigger transfer stories we've seen this summer have been followed with a list of compelling reasons why the deals won't happen within an hour of them appearing.

Quicknick wrote:The last centre half we got from Scotland wasn't too good. Big bloke on loan about 10 years ago.

Mind you, that's not really relevant, and I've no idea what this lad is like.

Who was it? Are you on about Russel Andersen? I thought he was a pretty good fullback for us.

Do we give our scouts 200 quid expenses to go and find players ?

Joking aside this is one guy I know nothing about, I'd rather watch Sunday league than the SPL

Ive just looked at Celtics team sheet for yesterday, he wasn't even on the bench.

Only played 25 league games for them last season.

Was happy to sign for Torino in 2016 (no champions league for Torino) but the deal fell through at the last minute. Torino saying he failed a medical the player that they change the terms at the last minute.

Has had a serious injury.

I think its very difficult to judge a player playing in scotland because the standard is so poor.

KRBFC wrote:Who was it? Are you on about Russel Andersen? I thought he was a pretty good fullback for us.

What was his name? Big lump signed on loan by Coyle. Played against Arsenal in the cup at home on his debut, I think. That would be in 2007-08. Not Scottish. East European, I seem to recall.

Varga?

Quicknick wrote:What was his name? Big lump signed on loan by Coyle. Played against Arsenal in the cup at home on his debut, I think. That would be in 2007-08. Not Scottish. East European, I seem to recall.

Stanislav Varga? I'm sure we got him from Sunderland though.

ksrclaret wrote:Stanislav Varga? I'm sure we got him from Sunderland though.

We did. He was solid to be fair.

Quicknick wrote:What was his name? Big lump signed on loan by Coyle. Played against Arsenal in the cup at home on his debut, I think. That would be in 2007-08. Not Scottish. East European, I seem to recall.

Varga ?

Quicknick wrote:What was his name? Big lump signed on loan by Coyle. Played against Arsenal in the cup at home on his debut, I think. That would be in 2007-08. Not Scottish. East European, I seem to recall.

I cant remember but it definitely isn't Andersen then. The other posters look to have got the right name although I honestly don't remember Varga playing for us.

KRBFC wrote:I cant remember but it definitely isn't Andersen then. The other posters look to have got the right name although I honestly don't remember Varga playing for us.

He only played 7 or 8 games or so.

steve1264b wrote:Ive just looked at Celtics team sheet for yesterday, he wasn't even on the bench.

Only played 25 league games for them last season.

Was happy to sign for Torino in 2016 (no champions league for Torino) but the deal fell through at the last minute. Torino saying he failed a medical the player that they change the terms at the last minute.

Has had a serious injury.

I think its very difficult to judge a player playing in scotland because the standard is so poor.

What was the fee Torino agreed? Why did he only play 25 times? Injured?

It was Varga - he did used to play for Celtic but sure he was at Sunderland when we got him on loan.

His legs had gone when he played for us - one of the slowest players I have ever seen in a Claret shirt.

Would have like to seen him in a 100m "sprint" with Joe Gallagher. I could have gone and made a brew and come back to watch the end of the race

TVC15 wrote:Would have like to seen him in a 100m "sprint" with Joe Gallagher. I could have gone and made a brew and come back to watch the end of the race

Funniest thing I'v read on here all week

It was Varga. He wasn't too nippy, was he.

If Celtic are in the Champions League well just have to leave it til January.

scouseclaret wrote:If Celtic are in the Champions League well just have to leave it til January.

They are out before it starts!

As a exiled claret resident in Glasgow, i can give some insight into Simunovic,Good in the air, combative but he can play from the back if required,not convinced about his pace, but he reads the game very well, he was one of Celtic's better performers in the Champions League,the standard of the SPL is probably lower Championship higher League 1 level most of the time,however Robertson,Van Dijk,and Wanyama have made the step up in recent years,given Celtic will bank 30 Million from the Champions League they are not under pressure to sell,however their transfer policy in recent seasons usually involves a big outgoing to the Premier League.One of the potential stumbling blocks to a deal is that he has a contract until 2020.

Celtic have just signed Rivaldo Coetzee from Ajax Cape Town. South Africas youngest ever international for £1m. (Ajax Amsterdams South African feeder club where Steven Pienaar started his career).

Perhaps paving the way for him to move on?

"I see what you're saying about him being Croatian. He was born in Croatia and grew up there. But for a little more context, I've read that his parents and grandparents are all from Bosnia and that he's chosen to represent Bosnia instead of Croatia due to a lack of contact from the latter. Sounds a bit like our Scott Arfield!"

A large number of Croatian internationals were born in Bosnia (eg Lovren, Corluka, Jelavic) but had and have the right to play for either country. Most of the Bosnia national team are Bosniaks i.e. Muslims and most Serbs born in Bosnia opt to play for Serbia.

Left out of the squad entirely for the game against Astana. Whether that is because they are already 5-0 up, who knows? Maybe nothing to read in to it.

IndigoLake wrote:I see what you're saying about him being Croatian. He was born in Croatia and grew up there. But for a little more context, I've read that his parents and grandparents are all from Bosnia and that he's chosen to represent Bosnia instead of Croatia due to a lack of contact from the latter. Sounds a bit like our Scott Arfield!

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/ ... -of-bosnia" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Its very complex out there. Ecc summarises it well. But in essence being bosnian by birth doesnt mean he is bosniak and vice versa.

He signs monday

Quicknick wrote: Mind you, that's not really relevant, and I've no idea what this lad is like.

I think more posts on here should carry this sort of disclaimer

Him or Kevin Wimmer for me

The Priest wrote:Left out of the squad entirely for the game against Astana. Whether that is because they are already 5-0 up, who knows? Maybe nothing to read in to it.

Isn't he injured? Didn't play Saturday either...

A quick look back at Saturday's line up, it seems he might be injured. Rodgers has said he won't go cheap,but sounds like he might be open to a move.

Watching Celtic tonight I wouldn't touch any of their players other than Dembele (and we would have to sell the ground to buy him). Utter ****

Apparently left out of tonight champions league game due to a bid from the clarets.
Some Celtic fans suggesting the player has refused to play to push through a move.